The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-30
INsrRUorING rHE JURY.

Defendants ana Audience.
The jury in the conspiracy case had hardly
been chosen before speculation on a verdict be-
gan. Everybody asked everybody else what he
thought the result would be. If that question
was asked once, it was asked several hundred
times day. even before the testimony sas all
In, or an argument started AS the trial pro-
crossed the interest increased. and guesses be-
game rife while the facts were reviewed with
all manner and shades of opinion.
1t is very probable that the jurors
will never again become the focus,
sither collectively or individually of SO great
public attention. The main facts of the con-
spiracy were generally known before they were
given in evidence, hence the interest conferred
in the men who were to weigh them and reach
a conclusion that would convict or acquit the
accused. Perklns's confession laid bare so
thoroughly the main details of the conspiracy
that but little was left until the trial reached
the lawyers speeches and the judges charge, to
excite anything more than a passing attention.
But the jury and its possible conclusions always
came in to keep expectation alive.
Thus it was that when Judge Claypool con-
cluded the argument for the government and
,nly a noon recess interviewed between that and
The judges charge, public interest reached an
Intensity that affected all classes of citizens,
from the representative business and profess
Tional man to the one who lives by his wits,
on The crumbs of remuneration for political
work. Again came the question in many
lorms as individuals could phase it, what will
the jury dor No could tell The facts were
all in. and the only thing needed to complete
the case was what the judge would have to say.
Those who had had experience with juries knew
that nothing could extract the secret from the
men upon whose word the fate OF Coy, Bern
hamer, Sullivan, Span and the others hung.
Yet in the dense crowd that sweltered in the
United States courtroom, yesterday afternoon,
there was not one who, for the two hours the
judge talked to the jury, did not try to gather
something from the jurors movements that
would enable him to anticipate a verdict 1t
was fruitless. for they listened with unbroken
attention to the charge, without manifesting
shade of thought expression that would
give clew as to the end. One half
the room was given over to the general
public. 1t would, perhaps, accommodate three
hundred or more. Every inch of it utilized
by the crowd that stood patiently through the
long hours suffering from intense heat that
even a stirring breeze could not moderate. Men
elbowed each other SO closely that it would have
been impossible for one to move without dis
uEDlDB Inc WnOlo InrODR. mat part or the
room had very much the appearance Of a
densely packed hall during the progress of a
political convention. But the people were moro
orderly. They came to hear and see, and at
no moment eyes and ears closed to
what was going on. all of which was of so much
inheritance to local political purity hereafter.
The south side of the spacious room
served for the attorneys in the case the accused,
reporters. ladies and the favored few. Here,
too. the crowd used every available seat and in
It's midst sat the defendants, with varying ex-
preston of countenance but all showing marks
IF worrying anxiety Distributed throughout
me room could be seen leading citizens from the
par, medical faculty and mercantile circles, but
o the judges instructions The defendants
themselves were not more attentive to
what was said, and they measured every
and deal. syllable Not bd far from the
md Metcalf. Torturlng doubts deeply
marked upon his countenance. He heard. and
rs far as his face could tell it Coy suffering
more than he ever suffered before. Sullivan's |
eatures darkened by apprehensve
hought. DR.. Netcalf showed less care than
'ther of them. But he has good command of
lis feelings and it hns always been hard to dis
over how far dread of the worst made his life |
miserable. Yet, withal, the Doctor has keenly |
cit the position in which he was placed. A |
title to the right of this trio !
at Spaan, chewing q cigar. and at times |
Vigorously tanning with his hat. His eyes were |
lever removed from the Judge and his express
lO0 tOlO OF tue An1lOub JuOuRHL ne was undergo |
ug Bernhamer sat Immediately under the |
Judge. For once his impudence was held in
heck. He felt that he had been reduced to
othingneSs and that of all the defendants he
lons'had least to expect from the public. John
ceardon sat near Span with q table between
hem. Like the others care and apprehension
eft their trace upon him. AS the charge con-
inusd, in its course taking up defendant after
efendant. each quckenened his hearing, if that
vas possible, as his name was mentioned
oa Stalled his Behind aaGs Coy the and sassa
at Stephen Mattler, leaning forward to get
etter view of the judge and jury. He, too, APP
reciated the seriousness of the scene. For
hem all the trial had ceased to
ave feature about which they
oud afford talk with any other feel
ag than that of the m st serious doubt as to the
esult. Heretofore there had been hope. but as
he hour of judgment got nearer and nearer, all |
ost what little lght-heartedness, real
umed, they frequently INDUCED in during the
rial
During all this time the thermometer kept at
degrees in the coolest spot in the room. But
tile thought was taken of the heat The great
-ial was nearing end which meant Joy or
lisery for every of the nine defendants
nd it was only for that the people and the ac-
used had consideration. Unexpectedly to ono
them came ray of hope. 1t was John Rear
on. When the judge intimated that he ought
be acquitted as his connection with the con-
piracy was remote. Reardon's pent-up feelings
.me near breaking through the decorum
the court. He smiled in way that suggest
desire to get up and hurrah. But the next
oment the play of his features indicated that
e tears were not far from the surface. When
ernhamer's responsibility chairman Of the !
board was dwelt upon he became IN
Isy and tried to get neighbor into an expres-
'ession that he thought would be in keeping |
ith his own opinion. But no one had caro-
II Bernhamer. The other defendants had |
eir own affairs to attend to and he was left to
mself. After time, through all
lis tension short relief came.
lror Dinsmore was sick, and asked to be taken
to the air. He was gone about ten minutes,
Id in the meantime the buzz of conversation
as heard. The defendants turned to their
sighbors and passed remark two perhaps
bout the weather. but nothing about the charge.
he juror returned and the charge was resumed,
Id again every body's attention directed to
10 judge. AT 400 the charge closed, and i'm
ediately afterwards the room cleared for
70 of the jurors. They left in full
'ssession, and before the clock marked
70 quarter they were gathering about table
r their deliberations. But there was some
LAY after that, because Juror Densmore was |
1t well enough just then to take part in the